WORLD champion Claire Spreadbury is looking to make bowls history in the next week by becoming the first-ever player to retain her title.
It is just a year since the teenager shocked the bowls world by winning the Ladies Under-25 World Indoor singles crown at the age of just 15, after beating Australian Lindsay Armitage in a tense final in Jersey.
That victory did not go unnoticed, as she went on to win The Gazette Sports Personality of the Year award for last year and was voted BBC South Young Sportswoman of the Year.
Once again the event is being held at Grainville, Jersey, where Spreadbury will be among the favourites for victory.
And the 16-year-old, who plays at the Loddon Vale Club at Basingstoke Leisure Park, will be cheered on by supportive parents Phil and Sally Spreadbury.
The Kempshott-based bowler said: "I am happy with the way I am playing at the moment and I feel very relaxed, but I am sure the nerves will kick in when I start playing.
"Everyone will be out to beat me, as I am the world champion, and a lot of players from last year will be there.
"I will take it one game at a time and it would be nice to become the first player to win the title two years running."
Looking at the impressive list of the cream of the world's top juniors, it will be a great achievement if the Queen Mary's College student repeats her success.
Speadbury will start her defence against a player she has never faced before - Norshaseenaz Yahha of Malaysia.
The world champion said: "I know nothing about her, but whatever she throws at me I will have to deal with."
The first practice is tomorrow, followed by a mixed doubles game 24 hours later and the singles match on Thursday.
The mixed doubles is a new competition this year, in which all the players' names have been put in a hat and drawn out - with Spreadbury getting Ireland's Gary Kelly as her partner for the event.
Should the pair make it through the group stages, the semi-finals are on Saturday.
The teenage bowls star said: "I think playing the pairs event before starting the singles has got to help as it will give me a chance to get used to the green."
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